After debate by Messrs. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, Briggs, of Pittsfield, Whitney, of Boylston, Keyes, member for Abington, Churchill, of Milton, Crowninshield, of Boston, Wood, of Fitchburg, and Upton, of Boston, The amendment was rejected. The question then recurring upon the Report of the Committee, it was accepted. Mr. Earle, of Worcester, then moved that the Committee rise and report to the Convention that the Report of the Standing Committee ought to be accepted. The motion was adopted. And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. WOOD, of Fitchburg, in the chair. The Committee proceeded to consider the following Resolve, reported from the Committee on the subject of the Governor :--- Resolved, That it is expedient to amend the Constitution by abolishing the title of "His Excellency." The Resolve was adopted, without debate. On motion of Mr. Earle, of Worcester, it was Voted, That the Committee rise and report to the Convention that the Resolve ought to pass. And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. ALLEN, of Worcester, in the chair. The Committee proceeded to consider the Resolves concerning the Militia, reported from the Standing Committee on that subject, (printed Document No. 47.) After remarks by Mr. Oliver, of Lawrence, Mr. Wilkins, of Boston, moved to amend the Resolve by striking out the words "written votes," in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs, and inserting instead thereof the word "ballot;" but, upon suggestion of Mr. Hathaway, of Freetown, withdrew his motion. Mr. Oliver, of Lawrence, moved to amend the sixth paragraph of the Resolve, by inserting after the word "by," in the first line, the words, "a majority of." And the motion was adopted. Mr. Hallett, member for Wilbraham, moved to amend the twelfth paragraph of the Resolve, by striking out the words "three years," in the second line, and inserting the words "one year," and by striking out all after the word "qualified," in the fourth line. On motion of Mr. Earle, of Worcester, it was Voted, That the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. ALLEN, of Worcester, in the chair. The Committee resumed the consideration of the unfinished business of its last session-the Report and Resolves concerning the Militia, the immediate question being upon the amendment offered by Mr. Hallett to the twelfth paragraph of the Resolve. The question being taken upon the amendment, It was rejected. Mr. Oliver, of Lawrence, moved to amend the tenth paragraph, by inserting, after the word "appoint," in the first line, the words "and commission for one year, or until their successors shall be commissioned and qualified;" Which motion was adopted. The same gentleman moved to amend the twelfth paragraph by inserting, after the word "several," in the first line, the word "elective,” and striking out all after the word "qualified," in the fourth line; Which motion was also adopted. Mr. Bradford, of Essex, moved to amend the seventh paragraph, by adding thereto the following words:— Provided, that the said governor shall not, at any time hereafter, by virtue of any power by this Constitution granted, or hereafter to be granted to him by the legislature, transport any of the inhabitants of this Commonwealth, or oblige them to march out of the limits of the same, without their free and voluntary consent, or the consent of the general court; except so far as may be necessary to march or transport them, by land or water, for the defence of such part of the State, to which they cannot otherwise conveniently have access. After debate by Messrs. Wilson, of Natick, Parsons, of Lawrence, Davis, of Fall River, Oliver, of Lawrence, Bird, of Walpole, Hopkinson of Boston, Banks, of Waltham, Briggs, of Pittsfield, Keyes, member for Abington, Walker, of North Brookfield, Hallett, member for Wilbraham, Butler, of Lowell, Frothingham, of Charlestown, Ball, of Upton, and Bradford, of Essex, The amendment was rejected. Mr. Hopkinson, of Boston, moved to amend the seventh paragraph by adding the words, "to be exercised according to the laws of the land." The same gentleman moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again; But the motion was rejected. Mr. Hopkinson then withdrew his motion. Mr. Keyes, member for Abington, addressed the Committee, when, On motion of Mr. Wilson, of Natick, it was Voted, That the Committee rise, and report that the Resolve, as amended, ought to pass. And the Committee accordingly rose. TUESDAY, June 21, 1853. Mr. WILSON, of Natick, in the chair. By direction of the Convention, the Committee resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the House of Representatives; the immediate question being upon the motion of Mr. Hale, of Boston, to amend by substituting the Minority Report of the Committee. After remarks by Mr. Dawes, of Adams, Mr. Durgin, of Wilmington, moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. The motion was adopted. And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. WILSON, of Natick, in the chair. The Committee resumed the consideration of the unfinished busi ness of its last session-the Report concerning the House of Rep resentatives, the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Hale, to substitute the Minority Report of the Committee. After debate by Messrs. Durgin, of Wilmington, and Walker, of North Brookfield, The question was taken upon the amendment offered by Mr. Hale, and it was rejected, by a vote of sixty-one in the affirmative, and one hundred and fifty-six in the negative. Mr. Brinley, of Boston, moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. The motion was adopted, by a vote of eighty-eight in the affirmative, and eighty-one in the negative. And the Committee accordingly rose. WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1853. Mr. SCHOULER, of Boston, in the chair. By direction of the Convention, the Committee proceeded to consider the Report from the Committee on the Militia, "Inexpedient to act upon the Petition of John P. Coburn, That the laws may be so modified, that no able-bodied male citizen may be forbidden or prevented, from serving or holding office or commission in the Militia, on account of color.'" Mr. Whitney, of Boylston, addressed the Committee. Mr. Wilson of Natick, moved to amend the Report, by striking out all after the word "That," in the first line, as far as, and including the word "but,” in the fifth line, (printed copy.) Debate followed between Messrs. Wilson, of Natick, and Churchill, of Milton. Mr. Briggs, of Pittsfield, moved to amend the amendment, by striking out all after the word "Report," in the first line, as far as, and including the word "that," in the last line. After remarks by Mr. Banks, of Waltham, Mr. Wilson accepted the amendment. Mr. Keyes, member for Abington, addressed the Committee, Mr. Whitney, of Boylston, moved to amend, by inserting after the words "just named," in the sixteenth line, (printed copy,) the words, "but no distinction shall ever be made, in the enrolment of persons to serve in the voluntary militia of Massachusetts, on account of difference of color." After debate by Messrs. Wilson, of Natick, and Keyes, member for Abington, Mr. Whitney modified his motion, so as to strike out all after the word "Report," in the first line, and insert the following: That in the enrolment of the voluntary militia of the Commonwealth, no distinction shall ever be made on account of color. The question then being taken, the amendment was rejected, by a vote of seventy-four in the affirmative, and ninety-nine in the negative. The question then recurred on the adoption of the Report of the Committee, and being taken, it was, without a division, decided in the affirmative. Mr. Bates, of Plymouth, moved that the Committee rise, and report to the Convention that the Report of the Standing Committee ought to be accepted. The motion was agreed to, And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. BOUTWELL, member for Berlin, in the chair. The Committee proceeded to consider the Report of the Specia Committee, to whom was referred the subject of the Loan of the State Credit to any individual or corporation, and the several Orders of May 17th, 18th, and 27th, (printed Document No. 48.) After debate by Messrs. Keyes, member for Abington, and Wilson, of Shelburne, Mr. Stetson, of Braintree, moved to amend the Report, by striking out all after the word “ Report,” in the fourth line, (printed copy,) and inserting the following: Resolved, That the Constitution be so amended that, hereafter no loan of the State Credit shall be given to any corporation or individual, unless the question is first submitted to the people. Mr. Bradford, of Essex, moved that the Committee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. The motion was adopted, And the Committee accordingly rose. Afterwards, Mr. CUSHMAN, of Bernardston, in the chair. The Committee proceeded to consider the Report from the Committee on the Frame of Government : "Inexpedient to act upon an Order of May 31st, concerning the election of Senators in the Congress of the United States, by joint ballot of the two Houses of the Legislature," (printed Document No. 39.) The Report was accepted, without debate. On motion of Mr. Wilson, of Natick, it was Voted, That the Committee rise, and report to the Convention that the Report of the Standing Committee ought to be accepted. And the Committee accordingly rose. |
